Moyes demands more from Everton - but don't mention Europe

Unbeaten after five games and fifth in the Premier League, Everton boss David Moyes is refusing to think of Europe after allowing himself to dream last season.

"We are not using those words this year," said Moyes bluntly after a 1-0 victory at home against Ipswich Town took the Toffees to nine points.

They have two wins and three draws from their first month of the campaign, a healthy start.

But the way 2025-26 ended for Everton was a painful experience for Moyes and the club's fans, and nobody will be getting ahead of themselves this time.

A 3-0 win over Chelsea in March had left Moyes' side eighth, three points off what would have been a Champions League place.

But just as the fans dreamed of a first European experience since 2017-18, the wheels came off with no wins in their final seven games.

Everton finished 13th, four points behind Brighton, who qualified for the Conference League, and five off Sunderland, who joined Bournemouth and Crystal Palace in the Europa League.

So it is no wonder Moyes is refusing to get carried away now.

Asked whether he had challenged his players to earn European qualification this season, Moyes said: "Not [saying] in front of you people [the media], that's for sure, because we're still preparing ourselves and make sure we can do the best we can.

"I enjoyed saying the words last year. If you think of what we had done, been relegation material when we came in January [2025], got out and won the games, 12/13 new players had to come in...

"But the players had done so well, I started to believe that we had a real chance, and it allowed me to be like that."

Everton's strong start, in which they have also won two Carabao Cup games to set up a home last-16 tie against Newcastle in October, had been based on a solid defence.

Moyes' side have kept five clean sheets in seven matches overall and got the three points against Ipswich thanks to an 11th-minute goal from Thierno Barry, his fifth of the season.

What makes Everton's form even more impressive is the fact Barry is the only recognised striker at the club after Beto moved to Fiorentina on transfer deadline day, with key attacking midfielder Iliman Ndiaye joining Manchester City on the same day.

However, Moyes felt his side, one of only five still unbeaten in the Premier League, still have plenty of work to do before he will be happy.

"We've had draws at Tottenham and Bournemouth away from home and we've done pretty well," said Moyes. "Keeping clean sheets is something to be pleased about and try to build on.

"We've statistically been making more chances and we had 21 shots [against Ipswich], which is very good, but only two on target which isn't very good.

"The players get huge credit to get to this point, unbeaten in five games. It's really good, but I'm expecting them to do this.

"If we're thinking 'we're doing a great job because we've gone a few games', no, the manager expects that. I'm actually more disappointed that we aren't scoring more goals.

"I'm rapping them like you wouldn't believe - why are we not getting better crosses into the box, better finishes, shooting from the edge of the box, not scoring more? That's the only thing we're missing from being a half-decent side."

When Moyes returned for a second spell in charge of Everton in January 2025, the Toffees were 16th, one point clear of the relegation zone.

He has had to cope with rising expectations but was quick to point to the club's progress since he came back.

"I heard a lot of things [said] that last year was not so good and I thought 'my goodness, I don't know what the people are talking or writing about because it's absolute baloney'.

"It was fantastic what we did and we came so close to doing something that would have been incredibly special after no money, being on the verge of relegation, moving to a new stadium - and it has never been an easy job for anyone moving to a new stadium - so we came really close."

Assessing Everton's unbeaten status, former England midfielder and BBC pundit Danny Murphy said: "Nothing surprises me with a David Moyes side.

"They're so well organised, so well motivated and always dangerous when their backs are against the wall. There's been a lot of discontent among the fanbase regarding the owners and a transfer policy that left themselves short in forward areas.

"But the rest of the side is so well balanced, they all know their jobs, they know what they're doing and that backline with the keeper behind it is really solid. So, I never thought it was a catastrophe that they didn't get a striker in.

"Because they're so well organised and defensively so good, they're always going to nick results when they're not playing well. I do understand the fans' frustration, but I didn't think for a second they'd be in any danger because they didn't get cover in for their forwards.

"It is a thin squad, but they've still got quality."

Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford told BBC Sport the result felt like a positive way to end this part of the season, with the international break meaning the Toffees are not in league action again until 11 October when they will face Hull City.

"You have to dig in, that's the Everton way," Pickford said. "We are building momentum and we will be focused and ready to go when we come back. It was a great way to finish the week off."

Looking at the contribution of goalscorer Barry, who found the net just eight times last season but now looks a greater threat, Pickford said: "He works hard and the goals will come from working hard. The first year in the Premier League is always tough. He has found his feet and he has started a lot better this year.

"It's always good to finish with a win, especially before a long international break."